Boot and shoe lasting machine



June 24, 1941. H A MILLER 2,246,748

BOOT AND SHOE LASTING MACHINE i Filed Sept. 23, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 24, 1941. H. A. MILLER BOOT ANDl SHOE LASTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 25, `1959 VS1.. A

June 24, 1941. y A MILLER 2,246,748

\ o'r AND sHoE LASTING MACHINE Filed Sept. :23, 1959 3 sheets-sheet 3 Patented June 24, 1941 BOOT AND SHOE LASTNiG MACHINE Herbert A. Miller, Danvers, Mass., assignor to Herbert A. Miller Shoe Co., Danvers, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 23, 1939, Serial No. 2%,213

6 Claims.

My invention relates to the manufacture of boots andV shoes, particularly stitch-down shoes, and it has particular reference to a machine for lasting boots and shoes of that type.

The method commonly employed heretofore in manufacturing boots and shoes of the kind reierred to, particularly in connection with the smaller sizes, has been to first apply cement to the top marginal portion of the sole and to the inner marginal portion of the skirt of the upper; then to fasten the sole to the bottom of a last by means of tacks or nails; then to place the upper on the last and while manually stretching the heel end of the upper downwardly on the last, and while holding it under tension, driving a nail or tack through the lower portion oi the back of the upper into the heel end of the last to fasten the back of the upper in position against upward displacement on the last; then pulling the toe end and iorepart downwardly by means of pincers and while holding the forepart against upward displacement on the last by means of one hand, utilizing the nose of the pincers, while the latter was held in the other hand, to force the upper into the inseamthroughout the circuit of the shoe so as to press together the cemented marginal portions of the upper and sole. Thereafter the outwardly extending marginal portion or ilange of the upper thus cemented to the sole was additionally fastened to the latter by a line of stitches throughout the circuit of the shoe.

This method of manufacture was objectionable for the following reasons, first, because it required a high degree oi skill and care on the part of the operator since the control and manipulation of the parts depended entirely upon the operator, second, because of the time and care required to drive and remove the tacks and nails, and third, because the nished product was badly disilgured by a prominently displayed tack hole at the back of the upper and by a plurality of tack holes in the sole.

This invention has for its object to obviate the above noted objectionable features characterizing the method and means heretofore employed in the commercial production of shoes of the type described.

To this end I have provided certain improvements in the art of making stitch-down shoes las set forth in the following description, the several novel features of the invention being separately pointed out and dened in the claims at the close thereof.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a shoe lasting machine constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1 showing the presser members hereinafter described in engagement with an upper tted upon a last.

Figure 3 is a plan View of a shoe sole showing the manner in which cement is applied to the marginal portion of its top surface.

Figure`4 is a side elevation of the pedestal member, or work rest, hereinafter referred to.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the pedestal member shown in Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is a section on line B- of Fig, l.

Figure 7 is a section on line 'l-'I of Fig. 6.

Figure 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Figure 9 is a section on line 9--9 of Fig. 6.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of a completed stitch-down shoe.

The lasting machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises a lflat rectangular baseh Iii herein shown as more or less in the form oi a plate made adjacent to its corners with apertures extending therethrough for the reception of screws, not shown, by means of which it may be fastened in position upon a bench, or other supporting fixture, at a convenient height for the operator.

Near its rear side base Iii is also made with a circular aperture rI I, Fig. 8, which is occupied by the lower portion of a tubular post I2 provided upon its exterior with a radial flange that is rigidly fastened by screws to base ill.

The tubular post l2 is occupied by a vertical screw threaded shaft I3 provided at its upper end with a hand wheel lli. The upper end portion of post I2 is interiorly threaded and its threads mesh with those of shaft I3.

Above the post I2 the shaft I3 has fixed on it two spaced apart collars I5 between which is confined the hub I6, Figs. 1, 6 and 8, of a bracket I'I, said hub being rotatably mounted upon the shaft i3. The free end portion of this bracket II consists oi a horizontal transverse tubular boss I3 within which is slidably mounted the shank portion of an angular arm I9, said shank portion being keyed to the boss as at 2| so that it cannot rotate therein. A set screw 20 normally holds the shank of arm IS against longitudinal displacement in boss I8.

The front end portion of arm I9 is disposed vertically and at right angles to the shank portion from which it extends downwardly with its lower end normally disposed directly above a pedestal member r work rest 22 that is seated upon the top of base plate I0.

Dowel pins 23 and 24 projecting upwardly from base I0, Figs. 1 and 7, occupy sockets 25 and 25, respectively, provided in the bottom of work rest 22 thereby to hold the latter against lateral displacement on base lil and at the same time making it possible to remove the work rest 22 when occasion arises as hereinafter pointed out.

At its upper end the post i2 is made with a laterally extending radial arm 2l', Figsl 6 and 8, which is provided with a transverse horizontally disposed threaded aperture within which is mounted an adjustable stop member 28 herein shown as a screw provided with a lock nut 29 by which it is iixed in adjusted position. This stop member 2S cooperates with an arm 3l) depending from boss i9 to limit swinging movement of arm E9 in a clockwise direction, Fig. 6, so as to denitely position the lower end of arm i@ relatively to work rest 22 when arm 35 abuts the end of stop member 28.

The lower end of arm i is made with a dowellike extremity 3l, Fig. 8, of reduced diameter, that is adapted to occupy a socket 32 provided at the top of a last 3S, and with an annular radial shoulder 34' at the upper end of the dowel-like portion 3l adapted to abut the top of the last surrounding the socket 32.

The work rest 22, Figs. 4 and 5, is provided t0 support a shoe sole 35 and is made with shank and orepart portions which are preferably of the same size and shape as that of the shank and forepart of a sole of a predetermined size and shape.

Adjacent to its toe endr and at opposite sides thereof the work rest member 22 is provided with two upstanding sole-positioning lugs 35 between and against which the toe end of the sole is placed. Adjacent to its opposite end the workrest member 22 is provided upon its top with two upstanding sole-positioning lugs 3l against and between which the heel end of the sole is placed.

The sole 35 is placedY in position on the work c rest while the arm I9 occupies a position above that shown in the drawings and before placing the last on the sole the upper 3S of the shoe that is beingv made is slid upwardly on to arm I9 as indicated by dotted lines inV Fig. 1, after which the last 33 is slipped on to the dowel-like extremity 3| of arm I9. The screw I3 is then operated to adjust arm I9 downwardly while the operator presses laterally thereon in a direction to maintain the arm Si? against the stop meinber 253. By thus maintaining arm 35 against stop member 28 as the last 33 is lowered and seated on the sole, said last is accurately positioned longitudinally with respect to the sole, while the positioning of the last angularly relatively to the sole on the axis of dowel extremity 3! is effected by the operator. The screw I3 and arm I9 are adjusted downwardly in the manner just described until the last and sole are clamped tightly down on to the work rest.

The upper 38, Fig. 8, is then slid downwardly on arm I9 on to the last after which the lasting operations are completed as presently to be described.

As shown in Fig. 3 cement is applied to the marginal portion of the top side of the sole 35 throughout its circuit as shown at 39. Also cement is similarly applied to the lower marginal portion of the inner side of the upper 35. This cement is an adhesive composition of the kind Cil commonly employed for fastening soles to the bottoms of boots and shoes and a characteristic thereof is that two surfaces coated therewith are strongly united thereby when brought into contact.

Disposed opposite the toe end of the work rest pedestal 22 is a normally retracted presser member 48, Figs. 6 and 7, consisting o an elongate metal plate whereof the outer end is supported by a post il carried by a slide ft2 mounted in ways 43 provided in a bracket fili permanently and immovably fastened in position on top of base I5 by three screws 45.

The opposite end of presser member il is supported by a pair of plungers 55 each ol which is,

in turn, supported by a spring, one of the latter being shown at IVI, Fig. 7. These spring pressed plungers d5 yieldingly support the end of presser member that is opposite the toe end ol the work rest 22 in an elevated position against a transversely disposed roller 48 that is rotatably supported by a transverse bar i9 mounted at its opposite ends in ears 5B projecting upwardly from bracket dll. In this way the shoe-engaging g end of presser di! is normally and yieldingly supported above the level of the top of sole 35.

he post 5i is made with a radial ilange 5I on which the outer end of the presser l0 is seated, said end being made with an aperture 52 that is loosely occupied by post 5I so that the presser is free to rock laterally on flange 5I. The lower end portion of post 4I is threaded and occupies a tapped hole in slide 52 so that it can be adjusted vertically to some extent relatively to its supporting slide 22.

This slide fl2 is provided with an upstanding stud 53 occupying a longitudinal slot 5d provided in a horizontally disposed lever 55 that is fulcrumed at 56 on base I5. By means of this lever the slide 42 and presser il are manually moved toward and from the last 33.

Disposed opposite the heel end of the work rest pedestal 22 is a normally retracted presser member 5l, Figs. 6 and '7, consisting of an elongate metal plate whose outer end is supported by a post 58 carried by a slide 59 mounted in ways 56 provided in a bracket 6I. This bracket is made with a threaded stem 62 which projects downwardly through a slot 63 in base I0 andI is provided with a hand-operated clamping nut 64, Fig. 1. Bracket 5I is adjustable toward and from work rest 22 and is xed in its adjusted position by means of nut 56.

The opposite inner endV of presser member 5l is supported by a pair of plungers 55, each of which is in turn supported by a spring, one of the latter being shown at 66, These spring-pressed plungers 65 yieldingly support the inner end of presser member 5'! in an elevated position against a transversely disposed roller 5l that is rotatably supported by a transverse bar 68 mounted atY its opposite ends in ears 69 projecting upwardly from bracket SI. In this way the inner shoeengaging end of presser 5l is normally and yieldingly supported above the level of the top of sole 35.

The post 52 is made with a radial flange 'IllA The slide 59 is provided with an upstanding stud 'Il occupying a longitudinal slot 12 provided in a horizontally disposed lever 13 that is fulcrumed at 'I4 on base IIJ. By means of this, lever slide 59 and presser 51 are manually moved on bracket Gl toward and from the last 33.

Each presser member 40 and 51 has separably connected with it the upper end of a link l5,

Figs. 1, 6 and 7 and, as shown in Fig. 8, the lower end of each link 15 is connected by a iieXible chain 'it with a :toot lever 'il pivotally supported at 13 by a bracket 'I9 secured to a floor or the like, it being understood that there are two of these levers, one for each presser member.

As shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings the slides 42 and 59 are made with oppositely disposed beveled sides and occupy dovetailed grooves or Ways 60 formed in the top of brackets t4 and 6I.

The inner shoeengaging end of the presser member llt is made with a toe-shaped indentation til which is of the same size and shape as the toe portion of the shoe that is being built and the portion of the presser member bordering this indentation is beveled to provide more or less oi a knife edge adapted to nt into the inseam of the shoe as will presently be clear.

The inner shoe-engaging end of the presser member lil is made with a heel-shaped indentation 8l which is of the same size and shape as the heel end of the shoe that is being made, as viewed in plan, and the marginal portion of the presser member which borders this indentation Bi is also beveled toprovide more or less of a knife edge to iit into the inseam of the shoe that is being made.

After the sole 35 and last 33 have been clamped in position upon the top of the work rest 22` the upper 39, Figs. l and 8, is slid downwardly on arm i9 and fitted on to the last 33. Then while the heel end of the upper is pulled downwardly manually thereby to hold it tted snugly to the last the lever 13 is operated to move the presser member l endwise into position against the upper whereupon the operator depresses the:l lever 'il' that is connected with said presser member and forces the inner end of the latter downwardly while exerting a light pressure against the lever 73. Thus, as the presser member 'is yieldingly urged against the upper and forced downwardly by means of the treadle the heel end portion of the upper is stretched snugly against the last and the cemented portions ci the upper and sole are brought together, as shown in Fig. 2, and united. Thereafter the toe portion of the upper is manually drawn downwardly and while held stretched on the last the lever 55 is operated to move the presser member it endwise into position against the upper and while in that position the treadle 1l, connected therewith, is forced downwardly by foot pressure thereby causing the presser member to stretch the iorepart of the upper over the last, push it into the inseam between the last and the sole, as shown in Fig. 2, and press the cemented portions of the upper and sole together to unite the saine.

By means of a suitable tool the oppositely disposed shank portions of the upper, between the inner ends of the presser members, ispressed into the inseam between the last and sole so as to bring the cemented shank portions of the upper against the cement on the shank portions of the sole.

The screw I3 is now operated to raise the united upper and sole in position thereagainst, to be removed from the machine. After removal from the machine the bottom flange of the upper and the sole may be fastened together by a line of stitches 82, Fig. 10, as usual.

From the above description it will be clear that the combination of elements including work rest 22, base iii with its post l2, screw I3, bracket I7 and arm i9 constitute a jack mechanism by which the last and sole are rigidly clamped and held against relative displacement while the up per is being lasted. This is a distinct advantage over the old method referred to above in the practice of which the sole was tacked to the last and these two parts were supported and controlled entirely by the hands of the operator. The new jack mechanism just referred to rigidly holds the last and sole in their properlyV assembled relationship while the upper is lasted. thus not only dispensing with the use of tacks but also relieving the operator or" considerable manual labor and care.

As shown in Fig. 7 the upper end of each link l5 is made with a head 83 which occupies a butto-nhole slot 841 provided in its presser member, the relatively narrow end portion of said slot providing a seat for said head 83 and the relatively large end of said slot providing a passageway for said head. Thus by moving either link lengthwise in its slot 84 into the larger end of the latter it may be disconnected from its presser member and the latter may be removed from the machine.

Of course, lasts of different sizes are employed in the commercial production of this type of shoe and, therefore, I provide work rest pedestals 22 of dierent sizes and in all of these work rests the sockets 25 are the same distance from the toe end of the work rest so that whatever sizework rest is employed its toe end is always the same distance away from bracket 44. It follows, therefore, that the bracket `El is made adjustable toward and from the work rest as described so that it may be properly positioned according to the size of the work rest employed. A stud 85, Fig. 7, projecting downwardly from bracket (il and occupying a slot 86, Fig. 6, formed in base I0 serves to hold the bracket El against angular displacement on the axis of stem 62 when nut 64, Fig. 1, is loosened.

One of the spring pressed plungers 65 occupies this slot while the other spring pressed plunger 65 occupies a relatively parallel slot 8l formed in base Hl.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that when the upper 38 is slid downwardly into position on the last 33 it is devoid of an outwardly extending flange at its bottom and surrounds the outersole 35. Therefore, when either presser member Ml or 51 is first moved inwardly against the upper and then downwardly the presser member acts as a wiper to stretch the upper downwardly and force it inwardly into the bight between the last and the outersole, and at the conclusion of this wiping and pressing action it has formed a flange on the upper and said iiange is pressed rmly against the previously cemented top marginal portion of the outersole to which it adheres. It will also be clear that each wiper is pivotally supported adjacent to its outer end by its slide 42 or 59.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for use in lasting stitch-down arm i9 thus permitting the last 33 with the boots and shoes, the combination with a jack mechanismincluding a base provided with a worIk-rest, gauge means for positioning a cementedrsole von said work-rest, and a clamp for engaging the top of a last to hold the latter in position on said sole and said sole in position on said work-rest while an unlanged cemented upper isheld in position on said last with its lowerl marginal portion surrounding said sole and work-rest, of flange-forming presser mechanism movably mounted on said base adjacent to said work-rest, said mechanism being operable independently of said 4clamp while said last and soleare held in position on said work-rest by said clamp thereby to force the lower interiorly cementedl marginal portion of the upper inwardly into the bight between the last and the sole and also downwardly against the cemented top of said sole.

2.. A machine-for use in lasting stitch-down boots and shoes without the use of tacks comprising abase; a work-rest on said base; gauge means for positioning a sole on said work-rest; adam-engaging clamping element normally disposed opposite said work-rest, said element being mounted on said base so that it is adjustable independently toward and from a last seated upon said sole; means for holding said element in adjusted position Where it clamps said last against the sole and said sole against said worl f rest; a flange-forming presser member mounted on said base so that it is movable laterally toward and from the toe end of said last and also perpendicularly toward and from said sole; a flange-forming presser member mounted on said base so that it is movable laterally toward and from the heel-end of said last and also perpendicularly toward and from said sole, and means for operatingsaid presser members independently of said clamping element while the latter amavis holdssaid last and said` sole'olamped in position on saidwork-rest and while a shoe upper is held in position on said last to cause the same to force the lower marginal portion of said shoe upper into Vthe bight between the last and the sole and also against the top marginal portion of the latter.y

3. A machine for lasting stitch-down boots and shoes-constructed in accordance with claim 2 and wherein said. last-mentioned means Vincludes two hand levers fulcrumed on said oase one of which is manually operable to shift one of said presser members laterally toward and from said last and the other of which is manually operable to shift the other presser member laterally toward and from said last.

4. A machine for lasting stitch-down boots and shoes constructed in accordance with claim 2 and wherein said last-mentioned means includes two pivotally supported foot levers one of which is manually operable to shift one of said presser members perpendiculariy toward and from said sole and the other of which is manually operable to shift the other presser member perpendicu- -larly toward and from said sole.

:claim 2 and wherein said clamping element is also adjustable laterally toward and from a position above said work-rest, and wherein an adjustable stop is provided for limiting lateral adjustment of said element toward said position.

HERBERT A. MILLER. 

